Facing the fat issue

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Combating childhood obesity is not merely an end in itself.
Aside from the physical and mental health implications attached to
being an overweight child, there are also huge long-term
implications. Overweight children often become overweight, even
obese, adults. The Heart Foundation says that estimates indicate
that by the middle of the century one in four Australians will be
at risk from cardiovascular disease - so tackling childhood obesity
is an important step in heading off such a situation.

The way forward appears to involve a range of approaches. These
include controls on the messages children get from television and
other advertising about eating; greater regulation of school
canteens; and healthy eating and exercise education programs. These
initiatives demand commitment from government and families.

At this stage, it appears that neither governments nor families
have fully grasped the urgency of the problem. The Victorian
Government has baulked at intervening in what school canteens sell.
So far, it is prepared only to issue guidelines that schools are
free to ignore. This is simply not good enough. As long as the
profit margins are higher from the sale of junk food, guidelines
are likely to continue to be ignored.

As with many social and health problems, the solution in the
first instance lies in the home. If, as Robert de Castella
suggests, parents are not fully aware of the severity of the
problem or how to combat it, they need to find out.